Mike Clasper CBE to step down as SSP chair
Clasper joined SSP as a non-executive director and chair designate in November 2019 and was appointed chair in February 2020
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SSP Group has announced that Mike Clasper CBE has informed the board that he intends to step down as both chair and director.
The food and beverage outlet operator, which has travel locations across 38 countries, said he will step down following the company’s 2026 AGM on 23 January 2026.
Clasper joined SSP as a non-executive director and chair designate in November 2019 and was appointed chair in February 2020.
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The board has started a process to appoint a successor, led by Carolyn Bradley, senior independent director. If a successor has not been appointed by the 2026 AGM, Bradley will become interim chair.
Clasper said: “It has been a privilege to serve as chair of SSP. As a Board, we are finalising SSP’s multi-year strategic and operational roadmap to build on its strong foundations and accelerate the delivery of shareholder value.
“In order to enable the appointment of a new chair who can help realise the full scale of these ambitions in the years ahead, I believe that now is the right time to announce that I will step down from SSP, bringing forward my planned retirement by one year.”
Bradley added: “On behalf of the board, I would like to express our gratitude to Mike for his strong contribution and dedicated service to SSP over the last six years. His leadership and business insights have been critical in steering SSP through the challenging Covid period and, most recently, through a year of tightened focus on performance.
“The thorough chair search will focus on candidates with the experience to lead the Board and work with management to drive strategy and execution as we enter the next phase of delivery. During this interim period, we will be taking steps to ensure strong governance and oversight.”
Patrick Coveney, group CEO, said: “I’d like to personally thank Mike for his considerable service to SSP and for his commitment, insight and support. He has chaired the business through a time of considerable change, helping to recover the business from the Covid travel shutdown and strengthen our customer, client and partner footprint across the world. His wise counsel and leadership have been invaluable.”
